Students with Disabilities

The Disability Advisory Service (DAS) provides information and advice on disability issues at Oxford and facilitates support for all UK and international students with disabilities.

The DAS will work with you, with Pembroke, and with your subject department to identify and arrange any support you might need here at Oxford.

The team of advisors will discuss your disability, experiences and expectations with you to understand the impact of your disability on your study. They will then write a student support plan with you to summarise their recommendations.

This information will be shared with Pembroke and your Department who are responsible for implementing your support. They will also provide you with a copy.

The Service is open 09:00-17:00, Monday to Friday. There is Level/Lift access throughout, hearing Support System in meeting rooms, and automatic doors at main entrance and throughout.

Tel: 01865 280459

Email: Disability Advisory Service

In the video at the top of this page, hear directly from students about the support they have received from Pembroke and the difference it has made to their academic studies and life in Oxford, alongside Pembroke's staff who are appointed to provide this support.

Helena Palmer is the College's Disability Co-ordinator, and is the first port of call for all students who may need support.

Helena can provide information and advice about disability-related processes (including requesting reasonable adjustments and alternative exam arrangements) to applicants and students. 

Please contact Helena at helena.palmer@pmb.ox.ac.uk.

You can also speak to the JCR Disabilities and Student Carers Rep who will offer support and advice. See current JCR Committee members and contact details here.

To access the full range of disability-related support while at University, all UK disabled students are encouraged to make an application for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). 

This is available for students undertaking undergraduate and graduate studies, including those studying through the NHS Bursary Scheme and those working with the UK Research Councils.

A step by step guide to applying for Disabled Students' Allowance and other related support can be found here.

College Site

The Main Site of the College is largely disabled accessible for Undergraduates, including all quads, the Hall and Hall Bar, JCR, Chapel, The Pichette Auditorium, Farthings Café and the ground Floor of the Library.

All conference and seminar rooms in Rokos Quad are wheelchair accessible and most have hearing loops and lighting suitable for persons with conditions such as epilepsy and Autism.

If you would like to book a room with these facilities, including arranging tutorials over the course of a term, you can contact the events department via email or 01865 276484.

Information about disabled accessible facilities and lifts at Pembroke can be found here.

A University-wide building access guide can be found here.

Accomodation

Pembroke offers specific accommodation for the students with physical disabilities. These are ensuite rooms with disabled accessible wet rooms. These rooms are also suitable for profoundly deaf students.

Arrangements, such as ensuring an ensuite room, can also be made if you suffer from chronic illnesses which require the regimentation of routine or specific consideration of immune defences and hygiene.

You can talk to the Accommodation Office about accommodation needs and arrangements to help support you during your time at Pembroke.

Library and Study Provision

If you have a physical, sensory, mental or specific learning disability, chronic illness, mental illness or injury which affects your academic progress or ability to access learning materials, there are a number of specific provisions that can be tailored to suit your study needs (a full list of which may be found here).

There are many people you can talk to, both in Pembroke and at a university wide level about making the best arrangements to support you. See our  Welfare Contacts page.

Pembroke Librarian

Our librarian, Laura Cracknell, is always happy to be contacted about accessibility to the library space and its resources.

Oxford University Disabilities Librarian

If you have any questions or problems in accessing Oxford University libraries and its collections, please contact the Disability Librarian, Teresa Pedroso.

Accessible Resources Acquisition and Creation Unit (ARACU)

ARACU aims to make the resources of the Bodleian Library more accessible to readers who are unable to use printed material in its regular format.

ARACU mostly sources digital copies of books and other reading material, but they can also produce it in other accessible formats such as DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) audio, Braille or tactile diagrams.

To use the service, talk to the Disability Advisory Service when you are discussing your other needs as you will need to be referred. They will put you in contact with someone who will meet up with you, take a few details of the material you need and how you would like it.

Oxford Public Libraries

There are 43 libraries and 5 mobile libraries which offer concessions to people who are disabled, including blind or partially sighted and deaf or hearing impaired.

See www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries or telephone 01865 810240.

Liaising with College Tutors

Your College tutors are there to care for you in both an academic and pastoral role. They want you do well academically and to thrive at Pembroke. They are also bound by the Equalities Act to make reasonable adjustments to facilitate your learning.

It is worth discussing the effect your disability may have on your ability to work with your tutor so that they can arrange manageable workloads, deadlines and timetabling.

While the DAS will provide Pembroke, your department, and yourself with a copy of your support plan, this will not be shared with your tutor. If you would like your tutor to be aware of your disabilities you may pass your support plan, and any other information you would like them to know, onto your tutor yourself.

The JCR Disabilities Rep can help guide and accompany you through this process.

If you do not wish to discuss this with your tutor directly, you can speak to the Pembroke Academic Office or the DAS, who can help your tutor implement support for you on your behalf.

Liaising with Departments

Each Department and college has a disability contact, you can find the disability contact for your department here.

Examination Arrangements

If your disability or illness affects your ability to sit exams, or your method for exam completion, there are a number of arrangements which can be made, such as:

• Extra time

• Rest breaks

• Computer use

• Taking exams in college

These arrangements can also be made up to four weeks before exams begin in the case of serious illness or injury.

It is also possible, if necessary, to apply during or after exams for 'consideration of factors affecting performance in examinations', which may include previously declared disabilities.

To discuss alternative exam arrangements contact the Pembroke Academic Office and/or the Disability Advisory Service.

For more details, see the University guides on Sitting Examinations and Alternative Exam Arrangements.

The Careers Service at Oxford offer the following:

• Dedicated events covering topics such as if and how to talk to employers about disability, how to ask for recruitment adjustments, how to account for CV gaps, and preparing for the transition to work 
• Individualised support through 1:1 appointments with a disability careers adviser
• Online resources including answers to FAQs and a list of relevant external resources

 

Find out more on their website. 

JCR Reps

The JCR (undergraduate) Disabilities Rep is one of the first contacts for students facing welfare issues arising from disability.

Whether emotional, psychological or physical, they are able to offer support and a friendly face, and will deal with any issues you bring to them with sensitivity and in confidence.

They can help you to get in contact with the right people if any further support is required, and can assist you in bringing your concerns to college staff.

The welfare reps are also available for you to talk to about your welfare support, and provide further care from within the Undergraduate community.

Find out who is on the JCR committee here.

Peer Support

Peer Supporters are undergraduate and graduate students who have formally applied for the role and have been selected by the Peer Support Panel in Pembroke in consultation with a professional Peer Support trainer and the Senior Common Room (SCR).

They have received training in active listening, to enable them to listen effectively, communicate sensitively, maintain confidentiality, respect boundaries and recognise when and how to encourage referral to professional support services.

Find out more about Peer Support here, and see current Peer Supporters here.

There are also members of the Peers of Colour and Rainbow Peers who identify as disabled and would be able to support you through problems in which disability and issues of ethnicity, race or sexuality or gender orientation interest with or have an impact on issues arising from disability.

Junior Deans

The Junior Deans at Pembroke, working as part of the Decanal Team, are responsible for looking after the safety and welfare of students outside of regular working hours. They act as welfare advisers to the JCR, and are able to take concerns higher up in the College Staff chain if necessary. See Welfare Contacts.

Oxford University Counselling Service

OUCS often works with students with disabilities. They see students with the type of significant mental health conditions which fall into the category of disability, but also students with physical disabilities or those who have a long term chronic physical illness, where these conditions are having an impact on their student experience in a way that causes emotional distress.

A professional clinician can help to normalise your experience and place it in context, bring objectivity, critical distance, and experience of dealing with problems of all kinds.

They offer individual therapy and a range of other resources including workshops, groups and self-help resources such as podcasts.

During term (0-9th weeks) reception is open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.

Website: www.ox.ac.uk/students/shw/counselling/

Tel.: 01865 270300

Email: counselling@admin.ox.ac.uk

Outside the University

• My Life is a self advocacy group run by and for people with learning difficulties in Oxford. (Email: office@mylifemychoice.org.uk or Tel: 01865 204 214)

• Oxford Aspies is an informal social group setup and run by adults with Asperger’s Syndrome, for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome.

• Autism Oxford aim to spread awareness of the realities of life on the autism spectrum and support the development of autism services. They offer bespoke training services and affordable speaker events featuring people on the autism spectrum, family members and expert professionals in the field.

• See Oxfordshire Mind Guide for more.

Information about health and wellbeing for students at Pembroke is available on our Medical Advice and Wellbeing pages.

Prescriptions

The NHS offers help for funding of prescriptions (see here).

The JCR will also refund the cost of all prescriptions, including private, to all students within the JCR, able-bodied and disabled. Refunds request can be made in confidence, or anonymously through the JCR Disabilities rep.

To claim a refund, simply pidge the receipt for your prescription with your account number and sort code, with your name if you wish, to the Disabilities Rep who will keep a record and pass on details for payment to the treasurers. The reference for payment is 'JCR Prescription'.

Disability-specific Therapies

• The Oxford University Hospitals Specialist Disability Service is an experienced team who specialise in the management of complex disabilities and call on a wide array of professions including Clinical Scientists, Occupational Therapists, Rehabilitation Engineers, and Speech and Language Therapists. Their aim is to maximise a person's quality of life and independence. They do this by providing comprehensive assessment, advice, information, recommendations and where necessary, the design and manufacture of customised equipment.

• The Physical Disability Physiotherapy Service (PDPS) is a small specialist service providing physiotherapy for people with a long-term neurological disability. It is a local community based service. There is an emphasis on enabling patients and their carers to manage their disability in their own environment

Sexual and Reproductive Health Considerations

Romantic and sexual relationships and sexual health are areas of great concern for some students, and as a disabled student you may feel that you face added complications, or a comparative lack of support and sexual and reproductive healthcare.

However, the University, the NHS and many charities provide information on a range of topics to best help you to discover the best course of action for you to approach sexuality and disability.

Communication about sexual needs and ‘capability’ are particularly important as a disabled student. It is important to be able to have frank conversations with a (potential) partner on how your disability or illness may affect sexual activity and vice versa.

As well as Consent workshops, OUSU frequently run Disability, Sex and Relationships workshops. These cover, among other things, how to discuss particular needs pertaining to mobility considerations; the implications of disabilities such as Autism and hyper or hyposensitivity; and the routines and aids that can be used to overcome or incorporate these.

Any other medication you take to control your disability or illness may have an impact on your eligibility to use hormonal contraceptives. The GPs at the Beaumont Street Surgery in Oxford will be able to discuss this with you. 

Physical and sensory, disabilities and hyper or hyposensitivity may also impact your ability to use barrier methods of contraception. Doctor’s surgeries and sexual health clinics will be able to discuss with you the use of alternatives to latex in condoms and dental damns, for example, and how best to approach asking your partner for assistance.

Self-care and Everyday Management

It is particularly important for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses to take good care of their everyday health physical and psychological health, including paying attention to diet, exercise and sleep.

More information and guidance can be found on the Wellbeing page. NHS guidance for wheelchair users can be found here.

Oxford SU Disabilities Campaign

The Oxford SU Disabilities Campaign aims to:

• Campaign for better understanding and treatment of disabilities.

• Support and advocating for disabled students at Oxford.

• Bring together disabled students for social events and solidarity.

Wesbite: Disabilities Campaign (oxfordsu.org)

Facebook Group for up to date information on the campaign: https://www.facebook.com/OxfordDisabilities

Confidential Facebook group for students with disabilities to advise and support one another: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OxfordDisabilities

Email: disabilities@oxfordsu.ox.ac.uk

Sports

• Ferry Sports Centre has a pool, gym, sports hall etc. with wheelchair access to most areas. It is based at Diamond Place, Summertown, Oxford, OX2 7DP.

• Sports activities for visually impaired young people at Ferry organised by Action for Blind People. 

• Active Oxfordshire have a page of resources and directories about disability and physical activities and sport.

Local clubs for people with physical or sensory disabilities

• Wheelchair Basketball Club. Email julia.hyde@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk or tel. 01865 2259339 / 07887 650398

• Oxfordshire Boccia Academy. Email Paul Guest (paul@oxsrad.org) or tel. 01865 741336

• Abingdon Fencing Club: www.abingdonfencing.org.uk 

• Oxford Fencing Club: www.oxfordfencingclub.co.uk

• Banbury United LD Football Team. Email roymold@aol.com or tel. 01295 257302

• Bardwell FC. Email richard@bardwellfc.com or tel. 07798 813632

Accessibility

Information about accessibility in the city is available here.

Blue Badge Scheme

Oxford County Council administers blue badges. For an application form contact the Access Team on 0845 050 7666

Council

The Oxfordshire County Council is at County Hall, New Road, Oxford, OX1 1ND. See www.oxfordshire.gov.uk or telephone 01865 792 422 if you would like information or have questions.

Rail Travel

Special arrangements can be made for disabled or mobility-impaired passengers. For example, staff can meet you at your departure station and accompany you to the train, and similar arrangements can be made at your destination.

Before you travel, visit the National Rail website for contact details of the train operator (including mobility-impaired help lines and minicom/textphone). The Disabled Persons Railcard allows you to buy discounted rail tickets. 

Voting

If you are unable to attend a polling station due to disability, you can arrange to vote by proxy or post. Large print voting papers are also available at Polling Stations. Visit the register to vote website or email elections@oxford.gov.uk.

Further Resources

Oxford University provides fact sheets about a range of disabilities and their potential impact on studying (and vice versa), together with local and national support services listings, on their website here.

Student Advice Service

OUSU’s Student Advice Service offers free and confidential advice and information and directs Oxford students to relevant support services. Independent from Colleges and the University, the service exists to provide an entirely student-focused experience. You can speak with advisors in confidence about academic issues, welfare or anything else affecting you during your time at Oxford.

Call an advisor 07436225637 or 07436225630

Email: advice@ousu.ox.ac.uk

Oxford University Careers Service

The Careers Service is there to support you in making decisions about life after Oxford. If as a disabled student, you have extra concerns when you are planning your career.

The Careers Service have several specialist services they can offer including talking through your rights as a disabled person, discussing with you the decision to disclose your disability to potential employers, explaining about funding schemes for the disabled such as access to work, and describing specialist employment schemes for the disabled.

They can also advise and signpost you to organisations, such as EmployAbility, City Disabilities, GreatwithDisability and Change 100 who provide internships for disabled students

Business Disability Forum

The Business Disability Forum supports organisations to recruit, retain and serve disabled customers. The site includes information on publications, events and the Disability Discrimination Act.

Email: enquiries@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk

Discrimination and Equality

The Equality Act 2010 provides general legal protection against direct and indirect forms of discrimination, based on the protected characteristic of disability (and others, such as sex, race and sexuality). This includes a duty to make reasonable adjustments to facilitate disabled students in their education.

'Unconscious bias' refers to a bias that we are unaware of, and which happens outside of our control. It automatic and triggered by our brain making quick judgments and assessments of people and situations, influenced by our own background, cultural environment and personal experiences.

The University is beginning to offer unconscious bias training to members of staff to help them overcome such biases toward disabled students among others during the application and teaching possesses and as part of university life. Currently some of the Porters at Pembroke have received this training. 

More information on unconscious bias sensitivity can be found here.

Disability Rights UK has information about their work in leading change for participation for all.